Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) has awarded its biggest single construction contract for a multi-million dollar teaching and research life sciences hub in regional NSW.

 

The contract, worth $34 million, has been awarded to Joss Construction after a rigorous tender process by CSU that attracted a competitive field of national builders.

 

The project at CSU in Wagga Wagga is known as the National Life Sciences Hub (NaLSH). It involves a Life Sciences Learning and Teaching Complex, including four – 60 student teaching laboratories; a Life Sciences Research Complex; a Glasshouse Complex and Controlled-Environment Facilities; as well as laboratory support facilities, offices and key infrastructure such as IT, optic fibre and electrical substation.

 

“We are aiming for a world-class life sciences hub in regional NSW that will link Charles Sturt University and Industry & Investment NSW’s existing agricultural teaching and research facilities,” Dean of the Faculty of Science at CSU Professor Nick Klomp said.  

 

“The project will enable further research and training into the national priority areas of food production and security, plant and animal sciences, animal health and water and environmental sciences.”  

 

Executive Director of the Division of Facilities Management at CSU, Mr Stephen Butt said, “Joss Construction has a long history with Charles Sturt University, including the construction of the new two-storey building incorporating our Dental and Oral Health Clinic in Wagga Wagga,”

 

“This project is one of the most significant investments in education in Wagga Wagga’s history”

 

Work on the National Life Sciences Hub is expected to start before Christmas with preliminary road and civil works. The project is expected to be completed in late April 2012 and be ready for students in the second half of 2012.

 

Representatives of CSU and Joss Construction met at the end of last week when the building contractor took formal possession of the site.

 

Construction of a separate aspect of the NaLSH project, an underground field laboratory known as a Rhizolysimeter, is well underway at CSU in Wagga Wagga at a cost of $2.4 million. This facility is being built by Zauner Construction. It is expected to be completed in April 2011 in time for winter cropping research experiments.

 

The NaLSH project has been jointly funded by the Federal Government as part of the Education Investment Fund and Charles Sturt University.